It is difficult to answer this when you are not comparing like with like - it is almost like trying to price a car. Our product is so versatile and quick to apply that it dramatically cuts down the costs of special foundations; time on labour and scaffolding hire, and special sills, roof and guttering overhangs associated with full thickness natural stone.

We're often asked if we see much of the engineered stones and we can honestly say we do--when we're replacing it with natural stone! Do our customers ask us to install it? Very rarely, and when they do we have to send them to the big box stores for a quote because we don't work in it. Today's engineered stones are a blend of crushed quartz (stone) held together by epoxy (plastic). They are a modern-day substitute for corian, popular in the 1970's.

Granite is one of the most durable, maintenance-free countertop materials available. Granite is a natural material made of very hard igneous rock that is second only in hardness and compacted strength to diamonds. As a result of its geological composition, granite is stain, scratch, and burn resistant. Easy to care for and much desired for its natural beauty, granite is an investment that amortizes over time, retaining its original appearance long after initial installation.

Natural pearls form without human assistance -- when a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell, accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. This happens so rarely that, today, nearly all natural pearls one sees are in estate jewelry collections.

The products are cast in moulds using a technique process that replicates existing colours and textures with meticulous detail. Each colour and texture has its own blend of ingredients producing the look and feel of natural Stone.

It was only after a great deal of thought and planning that I resigned from the best radiology group in St. Petersburg. During the 7 years that I was there, I became a partner, the director of MRI, a musculoskeletal specialist, a mammography specialist, and was able to perform nearly all interventional radiological procedures including angiography, biopsies, drainages, and the new breast stereotactic and ABBI procedures.

Strictly speaking, natural pearls are those created without any human intervention whereas cultured pearls require human intervention.

Cast stone is a man-made material. Cements and aggregates are combined and molded into a variety of building products for use as pavements, walling, and ornament. It deteriorates in the same way as concrete. Natural stone is millions of years old, formed in the earth under enormous pressure. Although it costs more initially, It is more durable than cast stone and is a wise investment in the long term.

Natural stone is produced by mother nature, while engineered stone is man made. Natural stone mainly comes from quaries where the stone is cut out of the Earth. Engineered stone is composed of crushed natural stone bound together by acrylics.

No. Natural gas is a commodity and its price is determined by the market, based on several factors. When Nicor Gas buys gas on your behalf and delivers it to your home, we charge you exactly what we paid for it-we are not allowed to mark it up, by regulation of the Illinois Commerce Commission. The cost of natural gas makes up about 75-80 percent of your bill. The delivery charge makes up about 10-15 percent, and taxes make up the remaining 5-10 percent.

Natural stone is nature's timeless art. It lends strength to its surroundings by evoking a classic and unique feeling. It invites luxury into your home while still being affordable.

Click here for our Care and Cleaning Guide. You'll appreciate that natural stone requires minimal care. Simply use warm water or neutral PH cleanser. Never use an acid-based cleanser, chemicals or abrasive on your stone. Natural stone will not stain easily as long as it is sealed and maintained properly. Click here for our Care and Cleaning Guide.

Do not use vacuum cleaners at natural stone surface. The metallic appliances may scratch the surface. Too much use of cleaners or soap may leave some spots. Use non acidic soap, solution of ammonia water or mild cleaners to clean your natural stones.

Natural Stone comes from around the world. Various types of stone, in myriad colors and textures, are found in different countries. Much of our granite comes from Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa. Marble is mostly from Italy, Spain and Turkey. Slate is imported from Brazil, India and China. Soapstone is imported primarily from Brazil, while limestone comes from Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Brazil.

Having been a General Contractor in both the new and remodel market, natural stone is a tremendous investment. Two things sell homes: Kitchens and Master Baths. Nationally, the payback for remodels on Kitchens and Master Baths is over 90% return on your investment. In Tulsa, where Granite prices are less expensive than the national average, your investment will be even better.

Granite is an extremely tough, durable material and in most cases can be used as a cutting surface without fear of scratching the stone, although repeated cutting on granite may dull knives. Using marble as a cutting surface will result in scratches as if cutting on a piece of wood. It is suggested that cutting boards be used on marble surfaces, as well as soapstone and sandstone surfaces to prevent damage to those stones (and also used on granite, to prevent dulling of your knives).